Variable tone control device



7 Sept. 27, 1949 c, sc 2,483,041

VARIABLE TONE CONTROL DEVICE Filed May 23, 1947 IN VEN TOR.

Patented Sept. 27, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

My present invention relates generally to improvements in stringed musical instruments, and more specifically to an improved variable tone control device for use as an attachment upon the bridge of a violin, viola, cello, bass viol, and other similar instruments for the purpose of controlling tonal vibrations to eliminate disagreeable, harsh, and raspy tones, and to produce tones of beautiful clarity and carrying quality.

By its utilization upon the bridge of the stringed instrument the device of my invention performs the functions of a stabilizer and condenser which controls the intensity of tone vibrations from the strings and bridge of the instrument and transmitted to the body of the instrument for amplification. And the control device is adjustable to vary the strength of tones or tonal vibrations entering the body of the instrument in accord with the characteristics and capacity of a particular instrument to receive and amplify the transmitted vibrations.

The primary purpose of the invention is the provision of a device of this nature that is composed of a minimum number of parts that may with facility be manufactured at low cost of production, and the parts assembled and adjusted with convenience and precision for ready attachment to the bridge of the instrument where it forms a component part cooperating with the strings and bridge for transmitting the tonal vibrations to the body of the instrument for amplification.

The invention consists essentially in certain novel features of construction and combinations, arrangements, and adjustments of parts as will hereinafter be described, and more specifically set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated a complete example of a physical embed ment of my invention, which is successfully performing its functions in actual use, and in accord with one mode I have devised for the practical application of the principles of my invention. It will, however, be understood that changes and alternations are contemplated, and may be made in these exemplifying drawings and mechanical structures, within the scope of my claims, without departing from the principles of the invention.

Figure 1 is a view in elevation showing a conventional bridge for a stringed instrument and equipped with the variable tone control of my invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged view in elevation of the device, detached from the bridge.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the detached device, and

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view of the device.

In order that the general assembly and relation of parts may readily be understood I have shown a typical or conventional bridge B having the usual symmetrically arranged scroll cuts, and mounted in customary manner on the stringed instrument for the performance of the required functions.

The device of my invention, which is manufactured of high grade steel, an alloy, or other suitable material, includes a clip or clamp for per- .nanent attachment to the fretted bridge B, and an adjustable weight mounted on the clamp for stabilizing and condensing the variable tonal vibrations from the strings and bridge to the body of the instrument.

In the illustrated form of the invention the clamp is composed of fiat stock fashioned with an upright hook I, and an arm 2, which provides a resilient attaching means adapted to fit over and frictionally engage the opposite faces of the bridge, and located at the central part of the bridge B as indicated in Fig. 1.

The upright arm 2, at its lower end terminates in a horizontally disposed integral flange, here shown as a return bend, including the two plates 3 and 4, and the flange is bored and internally threaded at 5 to receive an adjustable weight 6. In this specific form of the invention I utilize as the weight an externally threaded screw having the usual top kerf I that is adapted to receive the blade of a suitable hand tool for manually adjusting the weight in its flange; and as indicated in Fig. 1 the weight is disposed in a vertical plane substantially parallel with the adjoining face of the bridge, with the lower end of the weight terminating at an elevation above the lower edge of the bridge and the upper face of the body of the instrument.

With the weight thus vertically disposed in symmetrical alinement with the scroll cuts of the bridge, it serves by virtue of the screw threads, as a control for the intensity or strength of the tonal vibrations.

By manually turning the screw to raise or lower the weight in its mount, the device may be adjusted to a specific violin for instance, so that the strength or intensity of the transmitted tonal vibrations may be varied in accord with the characteristics and capacity of the body of the instrument to receive and magnify the transmitted vibrations.

In thus controlling the strength or intensity of the tone Vibrations before they enter the body of the instrument the resultant amplified tones issuing from the instrument are produced and amplified with enriched clarity and quality, beautiful richness, and maximum carrying power and volume.

When the weight has been adjusted with precision to a specific violin, it becomes a permanent fixture of the instrument that eliminates undesirable tones, especially when playing the violin in third and higher positions, and particularly when on the D string.

The device of my invention, it will be apparent, is well adapted for use on low grade instruments to provide a higher grade or quality of tones, and with equal facility the device may be adapted to higher grade instruments to improve their qualities.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a variable tone control device for a stringed instrument, the combination with a bridge, of an attaching hook frictionally engaging the bridge, a supporting flange integral with the hook, and an adjustable screw forming a weight threaded through the flange in substantial parallelism with the bridge.

2. In an attachment for use with the bridge of a stringed instrument, the combination with an upright attaching hook having a depending arm, a laterally extending flange integral with the arm, said flange having a threaded bore, and a screw operatively mounted in said bore.

3. A variable tone control device for a stringed instrument having a bridge, comprising a clip having a vertically disposed web with a hook-like upper end adapted to be positioned on the bridge between the strings and having an outwardly extended flange on the lower end with a threaded opening therein, and a weight threaded in said threaded opening whereby the position of said weight is vertically adjustable.

4. In a variable tone control device for a stringed instrument having a bridge, a clip having a vertically disposed web with a hook-like upper end adapted to be positioned on the bridge between the strings and having an outwardly extended flange on the lower end, a Weight carried by said flange, and means mounting the weight in the flange whereby the position of the weight in relation to the bridge is adjustable.

ALBERT CLAUS FITSCHEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,306,663 Hart June 10, 1919 1,599,166 Conjurski Sept. 7, 1926 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 327,157 Germany Dec. 25, 1919 495,754 Germany July 17, 1928 

